It was a great weekend of hockey at the Compuware/ Honeybaked Invitational Tournament for the weekend October 6-8. The games were played at four-to-five different rinks in the Plymouth, Mich.m area. It was exciting hockey all weekend as there were upsets and tremendous talent on hand. Michigan Hockey Advancement lost their first game but won the next five to win the tournament. Meijer ending up losing in the final but had won five consecutive games before the final contest.
Forwards
A
Kacper Ryba #21 (F, L, 6’1, 178lbs, CYA, 3/25/00)- Kacper is a pure goal scorer, with a quick, hard and accurate shot. He has the ability to get open using his size and willingness to score. He has a good, 6-foot-1 frame and he uses it to advantage by protecting the puck by using his long reach. He scored three goals in the game and had a couple of other chances to score.
Joe Alberts #4 (F, L, 5’10, 175lbs, CYA, 12/29/99)- Joe competes on every shift using his quickness and intelligence. He uses his speed to create turnovers and then sets up his wingers for scoring chances. He also displays a quick, accurate shot and scored a nice goal on a give and go.
Tyler Williams #3 (F, L, 5’8, 161lbs, Belle Tire, 5/16/00)- Tyler has a very good skill set and uses his vision very well. He uses his quick hands and feet to be a very effective player, and it is difficult for the defenders to defend against. He uses his teammates very well and creates plenty of scoring opportunities.
B
John Kaljian #17 (F, L, 6’1, 201lbs, Belle Tire, 11/5/99)- John is a fast, powerful skater with the ability to separate himself from defenders. He possesses a quick, hard release and has the ability to score goal. He is very effective on the power play, using his ability to make decisions and get in open spaces to his advantage.
Keaton Jakrzewski #12 (F, R, 5’10, 150lbs, Meijer, 3/21/99)- Keaton is a smaller player who is always buzzing around and causing havoc on the ice. He’ uses his speed to evade defenders and creates scoring chances with his quick hands. He needs to capitalize on his scoring chances to be an effective player.
Jacob Kalandyk #42 (F, R, 6’1,170lbs, Meijer, 1/10/00)- Jacob is a big forward who uses his long reach and powerful stride to take the puck to the net. He is very tough to defend when he keeps his feet moving. He also sees the ice very well and makes good passes.
Cameron Armstrong #16 (F, R, 5’5, 130lbs, Belle Tire, 00) Carson is small player who works hard for every inch out there. He cycles well out of the corners and is able to get off a quick release on goal.
Timofei Khokhlachev #89 (F, L, 6’1, 187lbs, Hill Academy, 11/6/01) Timofei is young, but he plays much older than his age. He is very strong on his skates and has great speed. The forward has quick hands and an accurate shot, which he used to scored a couple of goals top shelf. At 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, he uses his size to play a physical game without fear.
Sergei Anisimov #37 (F, L, Hill Academy, 2/15/00) Sergei has good size and strong powerful strides with the ability to protect the puck. He makes nice passes and cycles very well, and he is constantly moving his feet. He has quick hands and the ability to score goals and scored a nice goal with a give and go play.
Denis Valguzov #87 (F, L, Hill Academy, 7/12/01) Denis is a very quick player who uses his explosiveness down the wing and out of the corner. He is very shifty and has the ability to beat players one-on-one.
Jason Tynan #11 (F, L, 5’10, 185lbs, CYA, 9/18/00) Jason is a quick, smaller player with good vision. He makes nice passes all over the ice and has the ability to get open. He makes things happen on the ice with his quick decision-making ability. The forward has a quick release and the ability to score goals. While he was unable to score on his numerous opportunities, he did make a nice pass for his teammate’s goal.
Grant Burkhard #18 (F, L, 5’10, 160lbs, Belle Tire, 3/31/00) At 5-foot-10, Grant is a smaller player. But it doesn’t affect his game, even when he faces off against bigger players. He likes to drive the net and get into the dirty areas. Grant uses his slick hands to control the game and set up his teammates. His quick hands and accurate shot are assets for goal scoring.
Raman Yerameichyk #19 (F, L, 6’1, 175lbs, Esmark, 5/31/00) Raman has explosive speed for a big player. He also uses his 6-foot-1 frame to protect the puck against defenders. He also plays a high-paced game with excellent, skilled hands. He has the ability to score goals using his quick release.
Oldrich Virag #68 (F, L, 6’, 170lbs, Esmark, 12/11/00) Oldrich is a big player who will take the puck to the net while using his speed. He scored a nice goal by driving to the net and using his quick release. He also plays well with his teammates and makes himself available.
Parker Brown #17 (F, R, 5’10, 145lbs, Esmark, 9/8/99) Parker is a smaller player, but he makes things happen on the ice by using his speed and intelligence. He keeps his head up and uses his vision to make nice passes.
Dylan Montie #22 (F, R, 6’1, 200lbs, Mi. Hockey Advancement, 5/23/00) Dylan is a hard-working player who is not afraid to take the puck to the net. He has a hard, quick release, which helps him score goals. He’s a team player and will do anything for his team to win, whether he is blocking shots or taking the hit to make the play.
Ryan Kerchoff #16 (F, L, 5’9, 155lbs, Mi. Hockey Advancement, 2/7/00) Ryan is a small, quick player who makes thing happen out of the corners with his vision and good passing abilities. He uses his teammates very well and plays a simple game without making risky plays.
C
Pavel Kharin #71 (F, L, 6’, 182lbs, Compuware, 3/11/99) Pavel is a big, powerful skater with some soft hands. He has good skills, including good vision and playmaking abilities, but could work on his consistency.
Donald Borgula #14 (F, R, 5’9,165lbs, Compuware, 4/18/00) Donny is a small, feisty player. He takes advantage of his 5-foot-9 frame by making things happen with his speed. He works well off the cycle and uses his quick release to get his shot off.
Ryan Lautenbach #16 (F, R, 5’10, 165lbs, Compuware, 2/27/00) Ryan has good vision and the ability to set up his teammates, especially on the power play. He needs to create more scoring chances by using his speed and shooting the puck more. While he is capable of scoring goals with his quick release, Ryan needs to create more scoring chances by shooting more and using his speed.
Osmundas Balciunaitis #24 (F, L, 5’11, 175lbs, CYA, 2/22/00) Osmundas is a strong skater who cycles very well in the corner, and he plays well with his teammates. His quick hands help him beat defenders one-on-one.
Jozef Martancik #13 (F, L, 6’2, 185lbs, CYA, 10/1/00) Jozef is a big player who uses his size to his advantage. He does an excellent job of protecting the puck by using his 6-foot-2 frame and reach. He has quick release, which makes him effective for scoring opportunities when he gets open in the slot.
Oliver MacDonald #13 (F, L, 5’11, 170lbs, Compuware, 11/7/00) Oliver is a quick, smaller player who needs to gain some strength to his frame. He has a quick release and accurate shot, as he was able to score a nice goal top shelf. He works well with his teammates and creates scoring chances by using quick passes off the cycle.
Spencer Oyler #9 (D, R, 5’11, 180lbs, Meijer, 9/12/00) Spencer is a very good defenseman who likes to join the rush and be a force offensively. He has good playmaking skills, reads the ice well and makes good, hard passes, which also makes his teammates better. At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds he’s not very big, but he’s not afraid to play physical and play in traffic. He’s also a very strong skater and hard to knock off the puck.
Owen Bourdow #4 (F, R, 5’8, 140lbs, Meijer, 8/13/99) Owen is a small player, but he has great breakaway speed and is quick and evasive. He has nice hands and can beat defensemen with his quickness and stickhandling. He’s not afraid of facing off against the bigger players.
Brendan Dempsey #91 (F, L, 5’8, 165lbs, Compuware, 1/13/00) Brendan is a small, speedy, playmaker who is always trying to make his teammates look good. He’s a heads up player and can evade defenders with his skating ability and quick hands.
Thomas Middleton #19 (F, L, 5’11,175lbs, Compuware, 6/19/00) Thomas is a quick forward who plays a smart game. He has slick hands and the ability to beat defenders. He plays very well in both ends of the ice and competes as well.
Kam Ottenbreit #12 (F, L, 6’1, 165lbs, Belle Tire, 9/6/99) Kam is power forward who is not afraid to go the net and make things happen. He has some slick hands for a 6-foot-1 player and cycles very well out of the corners. He plays very well in both ends of the ice.
Lawrence Huffman #9 (F, R, 5’7, 132lbs, Tri-State Spartans, 9/20/00) Lawrence is a smart player who makes great passes while using his vision. He is a small, quick skater who works very well off the cycle and works hard in both ends of the ice.
Ethan Robbins #7 (F, L, 5’10, 164lbs, Tri-State Spartans, 9/27/00) Ethan has a quick, accurate release and the ability to score goals. He scored a nice tally coming down the wing and shooting blocker low.
C-
James Hounsome #9 (F, R, 6’3, 210lbs, EC Spartans, 3/19/99) James is a big, physical forward who keeps the game simple. He skates very well for a big player and uses his good hands to make nice passes. He needs to use his 6-foot-3 frame to his advantage and go to the net more.
Nathan Andrade #16 (F, R, 5’6, 165lbs, Tri-State Spartans, 1/26/00) Nathan is a small but very quick player. He is constantly moving his feet and making things happen. His slick hands, along with his speed, make him difficult to defend against. He needs to shoot the puck a little bit more to take advantage of his quick release.
Seth McArdle #7 (F, R, Minnesota Revolution) Seth is a good-sized player who uses his puck protection skills to create scoring opportunities. He’s not a flashy player, but he works hard and drives to the net. He scored two goals in the game with his hard work and determination.
Luke Wright #34 (F, L, Minnesota Revolution) Luke is a quick, smooth skating forward who works hard and creates scoring chances with his hustle. He has good playmaking skills and the ability to make something out of nothing.
Mikey Mackenzie #10 (F, L, 5’6, 140lbs, Northern Cyclones, 7/00) Michael is a quick player who’s always moving his feet while creating havoc. He is fast out of the corners and has can make nice passes. He scored a nice goal on a two-on-one and assisted on another by finding the open player in front of the net.
Alex Dalton #26 (F, L, 6’3, 205lbs, Northern Cyclones, 3/99) Alexander is a big, physical forward who likes to use his body to his advantage. He is strong on the puck and is difficult to defend against. He gets himself available in front of the net and uses his body positioning to score goals.
Wyatt George #18 (F, R, 5’7, 162lbs, Pittsburgh Predators, 11/4/00) Wyatt is a smaller player but he is very quick and can create turnovers using his speed. He has slick hands and the ability beat defenders one-on-one. He needs to capitalize on his scoring chances.
Mat Thurston #18 (F, R, 5’10, 165lbs, Soo Indians, 8/27/01) Matt is a hard working player who does a good job on the power play and penalty kill. He has a quick release and the ability to score goals. He should be more disciplined while playing a physical game.
Defensemen
A
Camron Cervone #7 (D, R, 6’1, 185lbs, Belle Tire, 99) Camron is a solid defenseman in both ends of the ice. He is a very smart player who has the ability to read the ice and make things happen. He has a hard, accurate shot and will join the rush to create opportunities. He scored a nice goal using his quick release from the point. The defenseman also does a great job of running the power play.
Benjamin Lindberg #13 (D, L, 6’, 174lbs, Hill Academy, 11/17/99) Benjamin is a smooth-skating defenseman with very good vision. He makes smart plays and great passes. He runs the power play and makes good decisions. The defenseman has a hard, accurate shot from the point and can shoot on net or look for a back-door player.
Haralds Jirgens #7 (D, L, 6’, 154lbs, Hill Academy, 6/10/00) Haralds is a smart player who can lead the rush and make good decisions. He is good appositionally in all zones and can be available for his teammates.
Justin Moyle #5 (D, L, 6’3, 190lbs, Soo Indians, 8/31/99) Justin is big at 6-foot-3, but is also mobile and can carry the puck up the ice with ease. He has good vision and can make great passes all over the ice. He is more of an offensive player but is also reliable in his defensive zone.
B
Chase McCardle #25 (D, R, 6’2,200lbs, Honeybaked, 6/26/99)-Chace is a big defenseman who can play very well offensively through nice passes and getting himself open. He has a hard, accurate shot from the point, and he scored a nice goal with his slap shot. He has great decision-making skills, which make him effective on the power play.
Connor McCue #17 (D, R, 5’9, 161lbs, CYA, 2/12/00) Connor is a smart player who has good vision and can make great passes and nice plays. He does a great job controlling the power play.
Dallas Klaassen #2 (D, L, 6’2, 180lbs, Honeybaked, 6/24/99)-Dallas is a big, strong skater who will carry the puck up ice. He’s not the most offensive defenseman, but he gets the job done. He uses his 6-foot-2 frame to play a physical game and is very dependable in his own end. He makes hard, accurate passes to his teammates all over the ice.
Noah Carlin #20 (D, L, 5’11, 170lbs, Belle Tire, 6/13/00) Noah is smooth-skating defenseman who was a force in the offensive zone this weekend. He did a very good job running the power play and was able to set his teammates up for scoring opportunities.
Ethan Webb #44 (D, L, 6’, 150lbs, Esmark, 2/24/00) Ethan has excellent vision and makes great outlet passes to his teammates. He does an excellent job on the power play and can control the play and set up his teammates.
C
Nate Gaboriault #52 (D, L, 6’1, 200lbs, EC Spartans, 8/9/99) Nate is a strong, smooth skater who likes to skate the puck up ice. He makes hard, crisp passes all over the ice and can set up his teammates. He is very reliable defensively but can also contribute offensively.
Nathan Brown #4 (D, R, 6’, 200lbs, Soo Indians, 3/10/00) Nathan is a smooth-skating defenseman who leads the rush and has slick hands. He is capable of scoring off the rush as he scored two goals in this situation. He makes great outlet passes, but he tends to over-handle the puck.
Jack Dawson #7 (D, L, 5’10, 190lbs, Compuware, 11/9/00) Jack is a smooth-skating defenseman who makes the game look easy. He has the patience and poise to make great passes. While Jack’s 5-foot-10, 190 pound fram is on the smaller side, he uses his quickness and intelligence to be an effective player.
Jesse Herr #67 (D, R, 6’1, 200lbs, CYA, 6/16/00) Herr is a solid defenseman who has good vision and the ability to make great passes. He will lead the rush and he tends to make things happen out of nothing.
Goalies
A
Hunter Lopatin #1 (G, L, 5’10,161lbs, Belle Tire, 6/28/00)-Hunter is a smaller goalie, but plays aggressive and likes to come out and challenge the shooter. He is very good down low and uses his quick reflexes. Hunter’s only weakness is defending against glove-high shots.
James Downie #35 (G, L, 6’2, 190lbs, Meijer, 4/26/00) James is a big goalie who plays very well positionally. He’s always competing and not giving up on the play. James had a great weekend of net play and led his team to a couple of victories.
Tanner Beals #1 (G, L, 5’9, 150lbs, Mi. Hockey Advancement, 6/1/00) Tanner is a smaller goalie who uses his quickness to make saves. He is fast from side to side and has good reflexes, and he can also fight through traffic. He made some big saves this weekend while leading his team to the tournament win.
B
Nico Pidro #31 (G, R, 6’2, 195lbs, Esmark, 1/24/00) Nico is a big goalie who covers most of the net. He is quick down low with fast reflexes. He made some big saves against odd-man rushes. He plays with a lot of confidence.
Richie Parent #30 (G, L, 5’11, 161lbs, Tri-State Spartans, 5/2/99) Richie is a small goalie, but he is very quick side to side. He never quits on the play and is able to track the puck through traffic. He was able to make the first save and finished the weekend with some nice saves.
Tyler Bost #30 (G, L, 6’2, 190lbs, EC Spartans, 4/25/00) Tyler is a big goalie who plays very well positionally and doesn’t give up big rebounds. He moves very well for his size and is able to fight through traffic to make the saves.
C
Jack Regan #30 (G, L, 5’10, 160lbs, Belle Tire, 99) Jack is smaller goalie who covers his angles very well. He is also able to see through traffic and cover his rebounds well. He had himself another great weekend of hockey.
Andrew Farah #32 (G, R, 6’4, 200lbs, CYA, 4/22/99) Andrew a big, mobile goalie who is very good side to side. He has quick reflexes and is very good down low as he uses his long legs to stretch out. He wasn’t challenged in this game, as CYA dominated.
Nate Cava #72 (G, L, 5’9, 187lbs, Pittsburg Predators, 4/5/00) Nate is a bigger goalie who covers most of the net. He made plenty of saves as the play was in his end most of the game. For a big player, he is quick side to side and has the ability to cover his rebounds.
Photo credit: Hickling Images